Resettable electromagnetic counter

ABSTRACT

A RESETTABLE COUNTER IS PROVIDED WITH A PLURALITY OF STATIONARY SHAFTS INCLUDING A NUMBER WHEEL SHAFT AND RESET FINGER SHAFT MOUNTING A PLURALITY OF RELATIVELY STATIONARY SHEETLIKE PARTITIONING MEMBERS IN FIXED SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL SPACED RELATIONSHIP FOR SEPARATING THE NUMBER WHEELS AND RESET FINGERS INTO INDIVIDUAL COMPARTMENTALIZED UNITS, AND A RETRACTABLE PINION SHAFT FOR MOVING THE TRANSFER PINIONS INTO AND OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH THE NUMBER WHEELS DURING THE RESETTING OPERATION. A RESET PLUNGER RETRACTS THE PINION SHAFT AND DRIVES THE RESET FINGERS IN UNISON FOR RESETTING THE NUMBER WHEELS. THE PLUNGER AND RESET FINGERS ARE DRIVINGLY CONNECTED BY A DRIVE SPRING WHICH PERMITS CONDITIONING OF THE RESET FINFERS FOR RESETTING PRIOR TO RETRACTION OF THE TRANSFER PINIONS AND SNAP-ACTION RESETTING UPON RETRACTION OF THE PINIONS.

United States Patent [72] lnventor Lloyd J. Lapolnte West Hartford, Conn. [21] Appl. No. 883,565 [22] Filed Dec. 9, 1969 [4S] Patented June 28, 1971 [73] Assignee Veeder Industries Inc.

Hartford, Conn.

[54] RESETTABLE ELECTROMAGNETIC COUNTER 11 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. (L 235/117, 235/1, 235/91, 235/139 [51] Int. Cl. ..G06m 1/00, G06c 7/ 10, G06c 9/00 [50] FieldofSearch ..235/1.5,91, 91 (Digest), 117, 117.1, 139

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,053,441 9/1962 Vroom 235/1 17 7 3,184,982 5/1965 Aver..... 2 35/131X Primary Examiner-Richard B. Wilkinson Assistant ExaminerStanley A. Wal AztorneyPrutnnan, Hayes, Kalb & Chilton ABSTRACT: A resettable counter is provided with a plurality of stationary shafts including a number wheel shaft and reset finger shaft mounting a plurality of relatively stationary sheetlike partitioning members in fixed substantially parallel spaced relationship for separating the number wheels and reset fingers into individual compartmentalized units, and a retractable pinion shaft for moving the transfer pinions into and out of engagement with the number wheels during the resetting operation. A reset plunger retracts the pinion shaft and drives the reset fingers in unison for resetting the number wheels. The plunger and reset fingers are drivingly connected by a drive spring which permits conditioning of the reset fingers for resetting prior to retraction of the transfer pinions and snap action resetting upon retraction of the pinions.

PATENTED JUN28 1971 SHEET 2 BF 3 PATENTEU JUN28 Ian RESETTABLE ELECTROMAGNETIC COUNTER SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to resettable counters having a plurality of number wheels. More particularly, it is directed to a' new and improved electromagnetic counter adapted for electrically actuated count advancement and for withdrawal of retractable count transfer pinions during the resetting operation.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved resettable counter of compartmentalized construction capable of reducing the cumulative tolerance variations along the number wheel shaft while obviating the effect nonnally associated with loosely mounted parts in a multiwheel counter having a nonrotatable wheel-supporting shaft. Included in this object is the provision for a plurality of individualized compartmental or sectional units each comprised of a single wheel counter and reset finger rotatably mounted on shafts traversing all of said units, the number wheels being adaptedfor rapid individual reset in unison and rapid count transfer between the individual compartmental units of the counter.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved resettable counter operative for conditioning the reset fingers of each number wheel for resetting and for effecting immediate snap-action resetting upon withdrawal of the transfer pinions. Included in this object is the provision for a floating pinion shafi adapted for controlled movement radially of the number wheel shaft to effect release of the number wheels and spring-driven reset fingers conditioned for resetting and controlled prior to release of the number wheels to provide a variable reset force consonant with the greatest degree of reset necessary for the individual number wheels of the counter.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved electromagnetic counter having a stepped drive assembly exhibiting a resiliency capable of absorbing the highshock conditions associated with high-speed operation, an improved drive pawl configuration and the ability to adjustably control the driving force exerted on the resilient drive member during its movement in response to the activation and deactivation of the electromagnet.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved electromagnetic counter of the type described having its pole face and clapper arranged for operation within an intermediate, relatively even portion of the force-distance curve of the electromagnet to provide smoother more reliable operation.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out more in detail hereinafter.

These and related objects are accomplished in accordance with the present invention by providing a resettable counter with at least a pair of transversely extending shafts mounting a plurality of number wheels and complementary reset fingers, a retractable pinion shaft for moving transfer pinions into and out of engagement with the number wheels during the resetting operation, a reset operator for retracting the pinion shaft and for moving the reset fingers in unison for resetting the number wheels, and a plurality of relatively stationary sheetlike partitioning members mounted in substantially parallel spaced relationship for separating the number wheels and reset fingers into individual compartmentalized units and eliminating cumulative tolerance variations, the number wheels being operatively interconnected for advancing the count between the compartmentalized units.

A better understanding of the objects, advantages, features, properties and relationships of the invention will be obtained from the following detailed description and accompanying drawings which set forth an illustrative embodiment and are indicative of the way in which the principle of the invention is employed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a resettable electromagnetic counter incorporating the features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the counter of FIG. 1 with the cover removed;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the counter of FIG. 2, partially broken away and partially in section;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3 showing the count-advancing drive assembly and the reset plunger of the counter;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 4 taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 3 illustrating the partitioning members and reset drive mechanism of the counter associated with the plunger; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 2 illustrating the manner in which the partitioning members compartmentalize the number wheels and reset fingers of the counter.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings in greater detail wherein like referenced numerals indicate like parts throughout the several figures, the invention is depicted as embodied within a resettable electromagnetic counter designated by the numeral 10. The counter 10 is enclosed by a sleevelike cover 12 and includes a pair of generally rectangular elongated sideplates l4, 16 arranged in spaced parallel relationship. A bayonet frame mount 18 is secured to each sideplate adjacent the rearward end thereof by the threaded connectors 20 which also fixedly attach the transversely extending rear cap 22 of the counter to the sideplates I4, 16. A front cap 24 of generally rectangular configuration is secured to the opposite or forward end of the sideplates to complete a substantially rectangular frame structure.

Electrical leads 28 extend through the rear cap 22 and are electrically connected to the coil of the electromagnet 30 for conveying thereto the count-advancing electrical pulses or signals. A top closure plate 32 supportably rests within notches in the sideplates for enclosing the rear section of the counter and provides a transversely extending notch 34 within which is pivotally supported a clapper plate 36 by means of a retaining spring 38. In this manner the magnetically responsive metal clapper 36 is provided with a fixed pivot point at notch 34 for its movement toward and away from the pole face 40 of the electromagnet upon activation and deactivation thereof.

A stationary verge shaft 44 extends between the sideplates directly below the clapper 36 and pivotally mounts a verge drive arm having an axially extending hub portion 46 including a clapper retaining yoke 48 for receiving the free end of the clapper and an elongated arm portion 50 extending longitudinally of the frame adjacent sideplate 16. The ann portion 50 carries a pair of spaced drive pawls 52, 54 for stepwise advancement of a star wheel 56 pivotally mounted on a nonrotatable number wheel shaft 58. The drive pawls are contoured to reduce friction and both are provided with a flat wheel driving surface 55 and a concave adjoining face 57 acting as a stop for a trailing tooth of the star wheel. This configuration of the drive pawls obviates the necessity for pawl tip contact at the full depth of the star wheel. A verge return spring 60 is coiled about the verge shaft 44 with one end fixedly secured thereto and the opposite end bearing against the boss 62 carried by the clapper-retaining yoke 48. The verge return spring 60 biases the verge arm clockwise as viewed in FIG. 4 toward the position illustrated therein with the uppermost drive pawl 52 in engagement with the star wheel 56. It will, of course, be appreciated that the biasing force of spring 60 can be readily controlled by turning shaft 44 since one end of the spring is affixed to the shaft.

The verge am is preferably a molded plastic member having a skeletalized or riblike arm construction provided with reinforcing sections 66, 68 at the drive pawls 52, 54, respectively. The construction advantageously combines high strength with resiliency to provide reliable operation and sufficient resiliency to absorb high-speed, high-shock conditions. The verge is constructed to provide a substantial distance between the drive pawls 52, 54 and the verge pivot axis on shaft 44, the pivot axis being located immediately adjacent the pole face 40 so that movement of the lower drive pawl 54 into engagement with the star wheel 56 upon attraction of the clapper 36 to the pole face 40 permits only limited counterclockwise rotational movement of the verge hub portion 46. In this way the yoke 48 constantly holds the clapper 36 in spaced relationship to the pole face during all phases of the electromagnets operation. Thus, asshown in phantom in FIG. 4, the clapper plate assumes a position substantially parallel to the pole face upon attraction by the electromagnet and is driven by the return spring 60 to the illustrated full line position upon deenergization. The constant air gap thereby provided between the pole face and the clapper enables the electromagnet to perform its work function in a more even manner along the intermediate portion of its force-distance curve.

As mentioned, the number wheel shaft 58 extends between the sideplates and is affixed thereto adjacent the forward end of the counter. The shaft 58 coaxially mounts not only the star wheel 56 but also a plurality of rotatable number wheels including a lowest order number wheel 72 mounted immediately adjacent the star wheel 56 and a plurality of consecutively higher order number wheels 74, each of the number wheels being substantially identical plastic members having indicia on the arcuate peripheral surfaces 76 thereof providing a counter readout of those indicia positioned in confronting relationship with the transversely extending generally rectangular window 78 in the front cap 24. Advantageously the plastic number wheels are each provided with a heart-shaped reset cam 80 on their axially extending hub portions for effecting resetting thereof. The number wheels also include the conventional integrally formed wheel drive gears 82, transfer pinion locking rings 84 and transfer gear segments 86 which cooperate with the mutilated-tooth transfer pinions 88 to generate transfers between adjacent relatively lower and higher order number wheels and to lock the pinions between transfers. Additionally, as shown, the star wheel 56 is provided with an integral wheel drivegear 90 which directly drives the lowest order number wheel 72 through the full-tooth transfer pinion 92.

All of the transfer pinions are rotatably mounted in coaxial alignment on a movable pinion shaft 96 extending between the sideplates of the counter, the shaft 96 projecting outwardly of the plates 14, 16 through the elongated slots 98 extending radially away from the number wheel shaft 58. A pair of light pinion shaft springs 102 extend between the movable pinion and number wheel shafts on the exterior of the sideplates for constantly urging the pinions into engagement with the number wheels. As shown, the elongated slots 98 in the sideplates permit radial withdrawal of the pinion shaft 96 permitting disengagement between the transfer pinions and the gears on the number wheels, so that the number wheels are free to rotate to their reset position. A pinion yoke shaft 104 having a substantially square cross section is also provided between the sideplates 14, 16 at a location adjacent the pinion shaft and fixedly mounts a plurality of pinion yokes or locators 106 having elongated slots 108 of limited length through which the pinion shaft 96 extends, the yokes 106 being positioned between adjacent transfer pinions 88 for maintaining the pinions in proper registry between the number wheels. Individual pinion-locking leaf springs 112 are also fixedly positioned rearwardly of each transfer pinion by a nonrotatable lock spring shaft 114 secured between the sideplates 14, 16. Thus rearward movement of the transfer pinion shaft 96 along the slots 98 in the sideplates against the bias of the pinion shaft springs 102 not only will cause disengagement of the pinions from the number wheels but at the same time will bring the pinions into contact with their pinion lock spring so as to prevent inadvertent rotation thereof while facilitating proper orientation upon return of the pinions into engagement with the number wheels. Additionally, as will be appreciated from the fixed mounting of the yokes 106 on the shaft 104, the rearward movement of the pinions will cause synchronous counterclockwise rotation of all pinion yokes and the pinion yoke shaft thereby assuring withdrawal of all pinions simultaneously.

Referring now to FIGS. 3-5, sideplate 16 is shown fixedly supporting an inwardly projecting pin 118 on which is slidably mounted an elongated reset plunger 120 by means of a longitudinally extending slot 122 in the plunger adjacent its rearward end. The plunger is mounted for reciprocable movement along the interior surface of sideplate l6 and projects through the front cap 24. A thumb-actuated reset button 124 is carried by the projecting portion of the plunger, facilitating manual resetting of the counter. A nonrotatable reset finger shaft 126 extends between the sideplates for rotatably mounting individual reset fingers 128 associated with each number wheel of the counter. The reset fingers are molded plastic members of substantially identical configuration, each finger having an axially extending hub portion 130 which integrally carries both the forwardly extending reset finger and a rearwardly and downwardly extending gear segment 132. The hub portion 130 of each finger has an axial length approximately equal to that of a number wheel hub and the reset finger extends outwardly from one end thereof so that its cam actuator portion 134 is positioned in aligned overlying relationship with the heart cam 80 of the number wheel. A reset finger drive comb 136 extends across substantially the entire transverse dimension of the counter and includes uniformly spaced gear segments 138 meshing with the gear segments 132 on the individual reset fingers. The drive comb 136 is pivotally mounted on shaft 142 so that rotational movement in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 5 will drive all the reset fingers in unison in a clockwise direction bringing the cam actuator portions 134 into engagement with the heart cams 80 for resetting the number wheels. The drive comb is further provided with an upstanding tab 144 and an axially projecting boss 146 at its end adjacent the plunger. The boss 146 mounts one end of a partially loaded drive spring 148, the opposite end of drive spring 148 being connected to the reset plunger 120 for urging the upstanding tab 144 into firm abutting engagement with a transversely projecting drive boss 150 fixedly mounted on the plunger. The partially loaded drive spring 148 constantly biases the entire plunger to the right as viewed in FIGS. 4 and 5 into its illustrated rest position with an upstanding plunger stop 152 restrained by the reset finger shaft 126 from further outward movement under the influence of the spring. A notch 154 partially defined by the stop 152 permits reciprocable movement of the plunger to an extent sufficient to effect complete resetting movement of the reset fingers and full retraction thereof. As best shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the plunger 120 is also provided with a depending pinion drive leg 158 normally spaced from a pinion shaft actuator 160. The pinion yoke shaft 104 fixedly carries the actuator 100 within the plane of the plunger for driving engagement by the leg 158 during inward movement of the plunger.

Referring now specifically to FIGS. 3, 5 and 6, it can be seen that the resettable counter of the present invention also incorporates a plurality of sheetlike partitioning members 164 mounted in substantially parallel spaced relationship for separating the number wheels and corresponding reset fingers into individual compartmentalized units. In the preferred embodiment the partitioning members are thin metal sheets extending rearwardly from the front cap 24 between adjacent wheels rotatably mounted on shaft 58. The partitioning members 164 are generally rectangular in configuration and are substantially identical in shape. They lie within planes intersecting the transfer pinions and therefore are provided with a concave rear edge 166 skirting the transfer pinions so as not to cause interference with their operation. As shown, the triangularly spaced locations of the number wheel shaft 58, reset arm shaft 126 and pinion lock spring shaft 114, which pass through the partitions provide solid mounting points for each partition. Although the partitions 164 are maintained in generally parallel spaced relationship by the hubs of the number wheels (FIG. 3), reset fingers and the transfer pinion yokes (FIG. 6), the embodiment chosen for illustrative purposes also includes sleevelike spacers 168, 170 and 172 mounted on the number wheel shaft, reset arm shaft and pinion lock spring shaft, respectively. These spacers firmly abut both sides of the thin partitions at all three triangularly spaced shaft locations and firmly and securely maintain the partitions in fixed relative relationship so that any tolerance variation in the molded plastic wheels or reset fingers will not build up across the counter. in this way the counter is assured of a properly aligned relationship between the number wheels and transfer pinions.

Despite the sectionalization of the multiwheel counter by the partitions 164, smooth high-speed count transfer is accomplished between lower and higher order number wheels, and no interference is evidenced during the rapid resetting of the number wheels. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that as the thumb-actuated button 124 is pushed inwardly for moving the plunger 120 to the left as viewed in FIGS. 4 and 5, the partially loaded drive spring 148 will attempt to maintain interengagement between the upstanding tab 144 of the reset finger drive comb 136 and the plunger drive boss 150 causing counterclockwise rotation of the drive comb and clockwise driving movement of the reset fingers into engagement with the heart cams on the number wheels. Since the depending drive leg 158 of the plunger is spaced from the pinion shaft actuator 160, the reset arms are permitted to move in a clockwise direction until at least one of the reset fingers contacts a heartshaped cam on its number wheel. If the depending leg 158 has not contacted the pinion shaft actuator 160 upon engagement of the reset finger with the cam, the number wheels will not be permitted to rotate under the driving pressure of the reset fingers. Under those circumstances continued movement of the plunger to the left as viewed in FIG. 5 will cause extension and further loading of the drive spring 148 accompanied by separation of the boss 150 from the upstanding tab 144. This movement will bring the depending leg 158 into engagement with the pinion shaft actuator 160 causing rotation of the pinion yoke shaft 104 and slidable movement of the transfer pinion shaft radially away from the number wheel shaft against the bias of springs 102 until the transfer pinions are disengaged from the number wheels. This further loads the drive spring 148 and builds up the driving force now exerted by the reset arms on the heart cams so that upon release of the number wheels by the transfer pinions the reset fingers rapidly drive the number wheels to their reset position in snap-action fashion. As the transfer pinions are withdrawn they are brought into engagement with the pinion lock springs 112 so as to prevent their inadvertent rotation during the resetting operation. Inward movement of the plunger is limited, of course, by the front wall of the notch 154, the length of the notch being more than adequate to provide full reset of the number wheels.

Upon release of the manually operated button 124, the plunger 120 will return to its rest position illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. This is accomplished under both the biasing force of the pinion shaft springs 102 which were loaded during retraction of the pinions and by the driving force of the partially loaded drive spring 148 which seeks to return the plunger to its rest position. As mentioned, the linear motion of the plunger is accompanied by a rotary motion of the drive comb so that as the plunger is moved to the left for resetting, the drive spring is extended even when the tab 144 and boss 150 remain engaged during full rearward movement of the plunger. Thus, upon release of the plunger the spring 148 seeks to relieve this condition and return the entire reset mechanism to the rest position shown in the drawings.

As can be seen from the foregoing detailed description, the present invention provides a resettable electromagnetic counter with a plurality of individual compartmentalized units which prevent the cumulative effect of loosely mounted parts having tolerance variations. The counter operates within an intermediate area of the electromagnets force-distance curve which exhibits a smoother more even slope and employs a verge drive possessing both durability and resiliency under high-shock operating conditions. The reset mechanism of the counter provides for snap-action resetting of the number wheels coupled with a variable reset force consonant with the maximum degree of reset necessary for any of the individual number wheels.

As will be apparent to persons skilled in the art, various modifications, adaptations and variations of the foregoing specific disclosure can be made without departing from the teachings of the present invention.

lclaim: I

l. A resettable counter having a plurality of spaced number wheels; a stationary wheel shaft coaxially mounting said number wheels for rotational count advancement; transfer pinions for transferring the count between adjacent number wheels; a stationary reset finger shaft mounted adjacent said number wheels; reset fingers pivotally mounted on the reset finger shaft for individually resetting the number wheels; reset-actuating means for shifting the transfer pinions into and out of engagement with the number wheels to permit the resetting operation and for driving the reset fingers in unison for resetting the disengaged number wheels; and stationary partitioning members mounted on at least one of said stationary shafts in substantially parallel spaced relationship for separating the number wheels and reset fingers into individual compartmentalized units operatively interconnected for advancing the count and resetting the number wheels.

2. The resettable counter of claim 1 wherein the partitioning members are thin sheets of generally rectangular configuration secured between the number wheels against movement transversely of the counter.

3. The resettable counter-of claim 1 wherein the partitioning members are thin metal sheets of generally rectangular configuration positioned between the number wheels within a plane intersecting the transfer pinions, said sheets having a rear edge skirting the transfer pinions, the sheets being mounted on triangularly spaced stationary shafts extending transversely across the counter; the counter including spacers mounted on at least one of said shafts for securing the sheets against transverse movement.

4. The counter of claim 1 wherein the reset-actuating means includes a reset plunger operative for fully resetting the number wheels during slidable reciprocable movement thereof and a drive connection between the plunger and the reset fingers permitting drive interruption therebetween during shift of the transfer pinions out of engagement with the number wheels and rapid snap-action resetting of the number wheels upon disengagement of the pinions from the number wheels.

5. The counter of claim 1 wherein the reset-actuating means is movable between reset and rest positions and includes a slidable reset plunger, a pivotally mounted reset comb, and a spring drive connection between the plunger and the comb permitting drive interruption therebetween during shifting of the transfer pinions out of engagement with the number wheels, said comb traversing the individual compartmentalized units of the counter and including a plurality of drive means in driving engagement with the individual reset fingers.

6. The counter of claim 1 wherein each reset finger includes a hub portion extending between adjacent partitioning members and a depending driven gear segment, and the reset-actutating means is movable between reset and rest positions and includes a slidable reset plunger, a pivotally mounted reset comb, and a spring drive connection between the plunger and the comb for constantly biasing the reset-actuating means toward its rest position, said spring drive connection permitting drive interruption between the plunger and the comb during shifting of the transfer pinions out of engagement with the number wheels, said comb traversing the individual compartmentalized units and including a plurality of spaced drive gear segments in driving engagement with the driven gear segments of the individual reset fingers.

7. The counter of claim 1 including a pinion shaft mounting the transfer pinions for radial movement toward and away from the number wheels, spring means biasing the pinion shaft toward the stationary number wheel shaft and urging the pinions into engagement with the number wheels, the reset-actuating means being movable into driving engagement with the pinion shaft for moving the pinion shaft away from the number wheel shaft against the bias 'of the spring means.

8. The counter of claim 1 including an electromagnetic drive assembly comprising a verge drive arm having a hub portion mounted for pivotal movement and a pair of opposed drive pawls operative for rotatably advancing the number wheels, an electromagnet having a pole face, a clapper mounted on said hub portion for movement therewith toward and away from the pole face, the hub portion and drive pawls being arranged to prevent contact between the clapper and the pole face upon movement of the clapper toward the pole face.

9. The resettable counter of claim 1 wherein the partitioning members are thin stationary sheets secured against movement transversely of the counter and the reset-actuating means includes an elongated reset plunger slidably movable between rest and reset positions within a plane substantially parallel to thestationary partitioning sheets for conditioning the reset fingers for resetting and for driving the transfer pinions out of engagement with the number wheels, and a drive connection between the plunger and the reset fingers effecting snap-action resetting by the conditioned reset fingers upon disengagement of the pinions from the number wheels.

10. The counter of claim 1 including an electromagnetic drive assembly comprising a verge drive arm for rotatably advancing the number wheels, an electromagnet having a pole face, a clapper mounted on said verge drive arm for movement toward and away from the pole face and an adjustable verge spring operative on means for driving the clapper away from the pole face, the reset-actuating means including a reset plunger operative for fully resetting the number wheels during slidable reciprocable movement and a drive connection between the plunger and the reset fingers permitting drive interruption therebetween during shift of the transfer pinions out of engagement with the number wheels and rapid snap-action resetting of the number wheels upon disengagement of the pinions from the number wheels, the partitioning members being thin stationary sheets extending between the number wheels and reset fingers and skirting the transfer pinions so as not to interfere with the count transfer between the number wheels or shift of the transfer pinions; the counter including spacer means between the sheets to maintain their spaced parallel relationship.

11. The counter of claim 1 wherein the reset-actuating means includes a reset finger control comb traversing a number of the individual compartmentalized units, and a reset plunger mounted for slidable movement within a plane substantially parallel to the partitioning members, said control comb having drive means in the form of a gear segment for pivotally moving the reset fingers in unison for resetting the number wheels and a drive transfer member constantly urged into direct driving engagement with the plunger during slidable movement thereof, the counter including a pinion shaft mounting the transfer pinions for radial movement toward and away from the number wheels, said plunger having a depending leg portion movable into driving engagement with the pinion shaft for driving the pinions out of engagement with the number wheels, the leg portion being spaced from the pinion shaft whereby initial slidable movement of the plunger pivotally drives the reset fingers toward their resetting position prior to the initiation of driving engagement with the pinion shaft thereby facilitating rapid snap-action resetting of the number wheels. I 

